Holder for hot-top supporting blocks



June 26, 1956. A. w. PETERSON 2,751,649

HOLDER FOR HOT-TOP UPPORTING BLOCKS Filed May 12, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1720092601": 410m /4( PETfEfiO/M June 26, 1956 A. w. PETERSON 2,751,649

HOLDER FOR HOT-TOP SUPPORTING BLOCKS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 12, 1952 FIG. 2-

l(l(((K(((((((((((((((((f(l(((((((((((((((((((((((( 9 I I I5 Inventor United States Patent HOLDER FOR HOT-TOP SUPPORTING BLOCKS Alden W. Peterson, Lorain, Ohio, assignor to United States Steel Corporation, a corporation of New Jersey Application May 12, 1952, Serial No. 287,395

4 Claims. (Cl. 22147) This invention relates to a device for holding the blocks which support a hot-top on an ingot mold and to an improved method of installing hot-tops.

In the steel making art, a hot-top is a refractory sleeve placed at the top of an ingot mold before molten steel is poured from a ladle into the mold. The hottop extends above the mold, and steel is poured to a level sutlicient that it rises into the hot-top. As an ingot solidifies, the hot-top retains heat and thus keeps the upper part of the ingot fluid longer than the rest for metallurgical advantages well known in the art. A hot-top weighs as much as 500 pounds or more and is handled with a suitable crane. Commonly it is supported on a mold by four wooden blocks which rest on the upper face of the mold and engage either notches or lugs on the outside of the hot-top. The usual way of installing these blocks requires three men, two men to hold them manually in the proper position, and the third to guide the hot-top while the crane is lowering it. When the ingot commences to solidify, the blocks must be removed to allow the hot-top to settle with ingot contraction.

An object of the present invention is to simplify the usual procedure for installing the blocks and to eliminate the need for two workmen, considerable crane time, and various hazards of the operation.

A further object is to provide a block holder which is of simple light weight construction and which is adapted to hold the blocks in place on a hot-top before the hottop is picked up by a crane, and which is readily removable after the hot-top is installed on the mold.

A further object is to provide an improved method of installing hot-tops in which the blocks are tied to the outside of a hot-top before the latter is picked up by the crane, and the tying or holding device is removed after the hot-tops are all positioned on the molds.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, I have provided improved details of structure, preferred forms of which are shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of three ingot molds of a series and illustrates the installation of hot-tops thereon in accordance with the present invention;

Figures 2 and 3 are fragmentary plan and side elevational views of a hot-top which has supporting blocks tied thereon with a holder constructed in accordance with the present invention; and

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the holder used with a hot-top of modified construction.

Figure 1 shows three ingot molds 10, 12 and 13 of a series positioned to receive molten steel from a ladle, not shown. Mold carries a hot-top 14; a crane 15 is about to place a hot-top 16 on mold 12; a hot top 17 is located on the pouring platform alongside mold 13 preliminary to placement thereon. The hot-tops are supported on the molds by wooden blocks 18 which rest on the upper faces of the molds and engage notches 19 in the corners of the hot-tops.

In accordance with the present invention, blocks 18 are tied in place on the hot-tops with holders 20 while the hot-tops still rest on the pouring platform. As best shown in Figures 2 and 3, each holder 20 comprises four corner plates 21, pairs of connecting plates 22 pivotally attached to each of said corner plates, and four springs 23 which join the connecting plates at different corners and extend along the side faces of the mold to form a closed loop. Preferably each corner plate carries a handle 24 at its outer edge and a perpendicularly disposed bearing plate 25 at its inner edge, both the handle and bearing plate being rigidly attached as by welding. All the parts are of light weight construction. The various plates conveniently can be of 16-gauge template steel, the handle of steel welding rod, and the pivots simple bolts or rivets. The springs can be similar to those ordinarily used for screen doors. Each of the blocks 18 is held between one of the bearing plates 25 and the edge of the hot-top beneath a notch 19. The connecting plates 22 have inwardly projecting portions 26 which prevent shifting of the blocks. Thus the device surrounds the hot-top and holds the blocks by the tension in springs 23, which are of a length that they are stretched part way when the device is placed over a hot-top.

After the hot-top is installed on a mold, the block holder is easily removed by a workman while he stands on the pouring platform. The workman grabs the two nearest handles 24 and pulls, and thus releases the holding elements from the two front blocks 18. Then the workman raises the handles and relaxes the tension in the side springs 23 which in turn allows the back or far holding elements to drop from the back blocks. Now the workman can lift the holder off the hot-top. If the back holding elements could not release or open, tension in the back spring would pull these elements toward each other and cause them to hook on the blocks and prevent easy release of the holder. The holding elements hold each block rigidly as long as there is tension in the springs. Release of the tension allows the hinged connecting plates 22 to open flat and offer no resistance to removal of the holder, even from the far .side. Thus the hinged construction is a critical feature in the holding elements for the back blocks to permit ready removal. To simplify using the holder all four of the holding elements preferably follow this construction, although it is not critical for the front.

Figure 4 shows a modification in which a hot-top 27 has lugs 28 on its side faces in place of the corner notches 19. The same holder 20 can be used for holding the blocks in place, but in this instance the blocks are held between the springs 23 and the side faces of the hot-top.

From the foregoing description it is seen that the present invention afiords a simple holder for positioning the blocks in advance, and also a simplified method of installing a hot-top. The blocks can be positioned by a single individual who is not exposed to the hazards of leaning out over the edge of the pouring platform nor working around the hot-top while it is supported by the crane.

While two embodiments of my invention have been shown and described it will be apparent that other adaptations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A device for holding the supporting blocks on a hot-top comprising corner plates adapted to be positioned at the corners of a hot-top, elongated flexible coil springs adapted to extend along all the sides of the hot-top, and means attaching said springs to said plates and thereby forming a closed loop, the attaching means on at least two of said corner plates being hinged thereto.

2. A device for holding the supporting blocks on a hot-top comprising corner plates adapted to be positioned at'the' corners of a hot-top, pairs of connecting plates pivoted to each of said corner plates, and elongated flex- V ible coil springs joined at their ends to the connecting plates at dift'erent corners and adapted to extend along all-the sides of the hot-top and thereby forming a'closed loop. 7 r

' 3. A device for holding the supporting blocks ona hot-top comprising four corner plates adapted to be positioned at the corners of a hot-top,thandlesfixedto the outer edges of each of said corner plates, perpendicular bearing platesfixed to the inner edges of each of said hot-top comprising four corner plates adapted to be positioned at the corners-of-a hot-top, handles fixed to the outer edges of each of said corner plates, perpendicular 7 bearing plates fixed to the inner edges of each of said corner plates, pairs of connecting plates pivoted to each of said corner plates and having inwardly projecting portions which define with said bearing plates spaces for receiving the blocks, and four springs joined at their ends to the connecting plates at difierent corners and adapted to extend along the sides of the hot-top, whereby the device can surround the hot-top and hold the blocks by tension in said springs.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 279,191 Sanders June 12, 1883' 1,483,592 Pelstring Feb. 12, 1924 1,500,733 Howard et a1. July 8, 1924 1,755,669 Schwab Apr. 22, 1930 2,287,772 Anthony L Iune 30, 1942 2,328,356 Ott' Aug.- 3'1, 1943 

1. A DEVICE FOR HOLDING THE SUPPORTING BLOCKS ON A HOT-TOP COMPRISING CORNER PLATES ADAPTED TO BE POSITIONED AT THE CORNERS OF A HOT-TOP, ELONGATED FLEXIBLE COIL SPRINGS ADAPTED TO EXTEND ALONG ALL THE SIDES OF THE HOT-TOP, AND MEANS ATTACHING SAID SPRINGS TO SAID PLATES AND THEREBY FORMING A CLOSED LOOP, THE ATTACHING MEANS ON AT LEAST TWO OF SAID CORNER PLATES BEING HINGED THERETO. 